There are at least 101 natural—and very pristine—springs located on the House on Metolius. As the underlying aquifer is filled, water overflows onto the surface—the springs can range in size from intermittent seeps to large pools with hundreds of cubic feet emerging daily.

There are at least 101 natural—and very pristine—springs located on the House on Metolius. As the underlying aquifer is filled, water overflows onto the surface—the springs can range in size from intermittent seeps to large pools with hundreds of cubic feet emerging daily.

Anyone driving over the Santiam Pass to reach Central Oregon will recall looking down onto the expanse of Suttle Lake. This 1.4 mile long body of water has an inviting look to it in the heat of summer.

Suttle Lake is great for kayaking, swimming and other water sports.

When the water conditions are good, the lake is excellent for swimming. For those of us who enjoy open water swimming, the opportunity to swim a mile in reasonably warm, clear and fresh water is always a pleasant one. The water temperature varies quite bit with the season, but is usually in the mid-60s—almost twenty celsius for those that prefer metric—during the summer.

The Suttle Lake Lodgeat the east end of the lake is a great place to stop for a post-swim bite to eat, and they also rent various watercraft, if you would like someone to accompany you on your swim.

The Metolius Basin is the home to a wide range of bird species, including the Osprey pictured above. Also know as a sea hawk, this bird will get the attention of any fisherman along the river, as it calmly circles and hunts fish. The fish, in turn, respond by staying under banks and bridges, at least in part to avoid being an osprey's supper.

On the water, you will often see the Canadian geese and also Mallard ducks. If you have a little patience and a little luck, you may also spot Barrow's goldeneye.

Barrow's goldeneye is a more uncommon sight on the Metolius.

Woodpeckers are numerous in the basin. One of our favorites is the White-headed woodpecker, which make its home in the areas around the House on Metolius cabins... and has a habit of adding holes in the walls, from time to time.

The white-headed woodpecker.

These are only a few of the many feathered residents—we look forward to adding more birds to our blog over the course of the summer.

We've been busy shifting over to a new look, and it is starting to come together. Obviously, the scenery here hasn't changed, but we think this new format will give your an even clearly picture of what you will be seeing when you arrive. We look forward to your visit!